Alec Baldwin will continue filming Rust in January after reaching a confidential civil settlement with slain cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ husband.
Matthew Hutchins will serve as executive producer during the revival of the western as he, the producers and Baldwin agreed his wife’s death was a ‘terrible accident.’
Halyna was shot on the set of the film in October 2021 in Bonanza Creek Ranch, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in February.
Baldwin, 64, has always maintained he did not pull the trigger and that the blame lies with the stunt handlers and prop managers who should have ensured the gun was not filled with live bullets.
Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office is yet to charge anyone over Halyna’s death.
Baldwin wrote on social media: ‘Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son.
‘We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.’
Matthew Hutchins added: ‘We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust, including Alec Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions, LLC.
‘As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed. The filming of Rust, which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board in January 2023.’
Baldwin pictured stepping out of his NYC home today
Alec Baldwin (pictured this morning) will continue filming Rust in January 2023 after a civil case against him and the production company was settled. Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office is yet to charge anyone over Hutchins’ death
Halyna Hutchins was shot on the set of the film in October 2021. She leaves behind her husband Matthew Hutchins and their young son
Matthew Hutchins, husband of Halyna Hutchins is pictured running errands in Los Angeles. He will serve as executive producer on the film and said that himself, the producers, and Baldwin all agreed that his wife’s death was a ‘terrible accident’
Alec Baldwin pictured in Santa Fe with Halyna’s husband Matthew Hutchins and son following the prop gun shooting incident
The widower continued: ‘I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin). All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident.
‘I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work.’
Rust’s director Joel Souza paid tribute to Hutchins’ talent and creativity – and said the decision to continue to work on the film for her legacy is ‘bittersweet.’
Souza added: ‘My every effort on this film will be devoted to honoring Halyna’s legacy and making her proud. It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf.’
He said he wished he’d worked with the cinematographer under different circumstances, but continuing the project will help with his own healing process.
Rust Movie Productions, LLC, through its attorney, Melina Spadone, said: ‘We are pleased the parties came together to resolve this matter, which, subject to court approval, marks an important step forward in celebrating Halyna’s life and honoring her work.’
Filming will begin just 15 months after the cinematographer was shot on set.
Baldwin and Hutchins on the set of Rust last year. He maintains he never pulled the trigger
Alec Baldwin speaks on the phone in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office in Santa Fe, after he was questioned about a shooting on the set of the film Rust
Matthew Hutchins and Alec Baldwin sharing a hug after his wife was killed on set
Baldwin has previously pointed blame at the production’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.
He said the gun should never have been filled with live rounds and should only have been loaded with blanks.
It’s currently unclear if Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will also be involved in the revived production of Rust next year.
The original lawsuit, filed in February by Hutchins’ family, read: ‘Defendant Baldwin, the Producers, and the Rust Production Companies were aware of firearms safety issues that had occurred on the set of Rust and did not take action to correct the situation and ensure that basic gun safety rules were followed on October 21, 2021.
‘Had defendant Baldwin, the Producers, and the Rust Production Companies taken adequate precautions to ensure firearm safety on the set of Rust or if basic firearm safety rules had been followed on the set of Rust on October 21, 2021, Halyna Hutchins would be alive and well, hugging her husband and nine-year old son.’
This comes just weeks after Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria welcomed their baby daughter into the world.
Little Ilaria is the seventh child the couple share.
The actor also recently put his 10-acre estate in the Hamptons on the market for $29million.
The stunning home on Town Lane in Amagansett, nestled comfortably in the Long Island billionaire’s enclave, is now one of the most expensive listings in the area.
The property, located 100 miles from the actor’s family penthouse in Greenwich Village, is being billed as the perfect ‘marriage of nature and luxury.’
It features a 10,000-square-foot modern farmhouse, a pool, spa, covered porches, and a pavilion with a fieldstone fireplace overlooking acres of bucolic preserve in Amagansett’s estate section.
Baldwin is shown buckled over in tears after being interviewed at the Sante Fe County Sheriff’s Office on October 21
The whole gang: Alec Baldwin, 64, and wife Hilaria, 38, looked over the moon in a family photo that pictured all seven of their children — including baby Ilaria — for the first time. Alec’s daughter Ireland from his marriage to Kim Basinger wasn’t featured
Stepping out: Also on Monday, Alec was seen looking stone faced as he headed to lunch in New York City. The 30 Rock star covered up from the rain in a black coat and wore charcoal pants with black loafers
Defense: Baldwin has continued to defend himself ever since the on-set tragedy. the late Halyna Hutchins pictured
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